Entertainment Awards Shows and Events 2024 Met Gala 2011 Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala's Hottest Trends! From elegant nude gowns to wild feathers, see which trends reigned as Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker and more celebrated designer Alexander McQueen By Justine Harman Published on May 3, 2011 06:00PM EDT Close 01 of 13 LONG-SLEEVED NUDE GOWNS Bill Davila/Startraks; Getty (2) (in Alexander McQueen), (in Stella McCartney) and (in Carolina Herrera) proved how sexy covered up can be in anything-but-demure nude gowns. 02 of 13 RED DRESSES Charles Sykes/Rex USA (2); Kevin Mazur/WireImage Met Ball veterans – and neophytes alike! – hit the scene in scarlet frocks. From whirling dervish of a gown (Alexander McQueen) to Dianna Agron’s modern Michael Kors column and ‘s old-Hollywood Escada, ladies in show-stopping red abounded. 03 of 13 LONG-SLEEVED PINK DRESSES Kevin Mazur/WireImage; Billy Farrell/BFAnyc/Sipa A look so nice, we saw it twice! Brooklyn Decker offset her choppy bob with pink Michael Kors, while Michelle Monaghan selected a similar silhouette in fuchsia by Derek Lam. 04 of 13 BLACK FEATHERS Fame; Gregorio T. Binuya/Everett; Larry Busacca/Getty More is more at the Met Ball! Style stars including (in Prabal Gurung), model Natalia Vodianova (in Valentino) and (in Vionnet) hit the scene in all-over plumes. 05 of 13 OMBRé FEATHERS Dimitrios Kambouris/FilmMagic; Kevin Mazur/WireImage Not to be outdone, stylish ladies (in Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci) and Ciara in (Prabal Gurung) were to dye for in feathery white confections with a hint of graduated color. 06 of 13 BLUSH TULLE Larry Busacca/Getty; Matt Baron/BEImages; Peter Kramer/AP They don’t call it the fashion world’s prom for nothing! From ‘s organza Alexander McQueen stunner to Jessica Stam’s pink Tommy Hilfiger to Lala Vasquez’s frothy Vera Wang, stars took the opportunity to indulge their girlish whimsy. 07 of 13 CUT-OUTS Getty (3) In typical fashion-forward Met Ball style, cut-out columns reigned supreme. Ginnifer Goodwin was an emerald goddess in peek-a-boo Topshop Unique, while Emma Roberts and Kerry Washington dressed to impress in Michael Kors and Escada, respectively. 08 of 13 OVER-THE-TOP HATS Joe Schildhorn/BFAnyc/Sipa; Evan Agostini/AP; Stephen Lovekin/Getty Though the Royal Wedding is over, the fascination with fascinators continues! , Serena Williams and Vogue’s Anna Dello Russo flaunted their anglophile style in dramatic chapeaux. 09 of 13 ILLUSION EMBROIDERY Mirrorpix/Splash News Online; Gilbert Flores/Celebrity Photo; Startraks Strategically overlaid beading added endless drama to the intricate styles of (in Marchesa), (in Chanel Haute Couture) and Diane Kruger (in Jason Wu). 10 of 13 EXAGGERATED MERMAID Bill Davila/Startraks; Kevin Mazur/WireImage Leave it to (in Emilio Pucci) and Christina Ricci (in Zac Posen) to embrace the show-stopping mermaid hem trend. 11 of 13 BEJEWELED HAIR PINS Andrea Renault/Polaris; Bill Davila/Startraks; AFP/Getty From Naomi Campbell’s 1930’s Fred Leighton brooch to ‘s crown adornment (also Fred Leighton), to ‘s vintage Ralph Lauren necklace, which she rocked as a headband, the night glittered with unexpected garnish. 12 of 13 LONG-SLEEVED WHITE DRESSES Gregorio T. Binuya/Everett; Joe Schildhorn/BFAnyc/Sipa; Rex USA Spring might be upon us, but Hollywood’s hautest stars still love long sleeves. Nicole Richie selected a cut-out vintage design, while Florence Welch (in Yves Saint Laurent) and Leelee Sobieski (in Vionnet) rocked retro-style cinched-waist designs. 13 of 13 MENSWEAR Gilbert Flores/Celebrity Photo (2); Matt Baron/BEImages Everyone from Janelle Monae to Freida Pinto (both in Chanel Haute Couture) and Chloë Sevigny (in bowtie-adorned lace), rocked the suiting trend that just won’t quit!